Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex

Annual General Meeting 15th October 2009
A brief Report

Due to traffic hold-ups both north and south of Horsham some people were not able to arrive by 7pm so we waited until 7.30. Tea and coffee was available to make the wait more sociable. We didn't quite have a quorum (10% of 338 membership) so five non members present were adopted as members and the meeting eventually went ahead, commencing at 7.45.

The adoption of the 2008 minutes and accounts was carried without objection.

The five motions that had been circulated to all members were discussed at some length and voted on by secret ballot. The results were:

• 1. Allowing Co-Chairmen - motion carried
  
• 2. Removing the geographical boundaries of Surrey and Sussex - motion defeated
  
• 3. Changing the name of the Charity - motion defeated
  
• 4. Allowing Postal/Email/Proxy voting in future - motion carried
  
• 5. Making Jo Fisher an Honorary Lifetime Trustee - motion not voted on as it was not Jo's wish. Instead she was made a Patron of the Charity.
  Each of the four motions was passed or defeated by more than a two thirds majority.
  

Upon the declaration of the results Patsy Baker and Lynn Diggins withdrew their nominations. After the voting for the other candidates those declared elected were:

• Stella Bernardi
• Peter Crabtree
• Tony Ede
• Jeanne Hambleton
• Paula Noble-Smith
• Jane Norton
• Carolyn Philips
• Teresa White

The appointment of officers was then made being agreed upon almost unanimously as follows:

• Co-Chair - Stella Bernardi & Jeanne Hambleton
• Secretary - Tony Ede
• Treasurer - Peter Crabtree

A.O.B. was brief. The outgoing officers were thanked for their work during their term of office and Stella Bernardi thanked those present for their support, pledging her continued dedication to the group. The meeting ended at approximately 10.30.

This page is not the minutes of the meeting, but just a report for members not present to be briefly informed of the outcome.